KC Cariappa Recalls The Moment When Rajasthan Royals' Zubin Bharucha Called Him During His Depressing Period

Rajasthan Royals spinner KC Cariappa opened up on his tough phase when he was dropped from the Karnataka state team earlier this year.

Cariappa, who last played a competitive match was in 2019, said that he was depressed after being snubbed from the team in domestic competitions like Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“It was a very depressing period for me when I was not part of the Karnataka team earlier this year. I did well last year in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but after that, things became bad for me,” Cariappa said, as reported by India Today. 

I’m really thankful to Zubin Bharucha and to the Rajasthan Royals franchise for showing faith in me: KC Cariappa

Cariappa has played 11 IPL games for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and the 27-year-old was surprised to receive a call from Rajasthan Royals Head of Cricket Zubin Bharucha, who asked him to join the team and clear his fitness test.

“I was just roaming around in Bengaluru and my fitness had taken a toll, but that is when Zubin (Bharucha) sir called me to ask to come for the IPL trials,” Carippa said.

“I was shocked that someone is asking me to come for trials because I was lost almost for one year and weighed around 95kgs then. However, I went for it and bowled well,” added the 27-year-old.

Cariappa spoke about the moment he decided to get back on the tracks and thanked Rajasthan Royals for their support.

“Zubin sir then called me and said, ‘I’ve been following you since 2015, but what is wrong with you? What is wrong with your fitness? We like your bowling but you have to get your fitness right,” Carippa said. 

“And that was the moment when I found the motivation again, and I worked really hard to get back into shape. So I’m really thankful to him and to the Rajasthan Royals franchise for showing faith in me. I feel that I’m back on my feet because of them and now it’s time to repay that faith on the field,” he added. 

If I get an opportunity again, I just want to do well: KC Cariappa

Cariappa further said that he is waiting for an opportunity to prove his mettle as he gets very few games in a year to play and whenever he gets that opportunity he aims to give his best.

“I have been training really consistently during the off season, and it (the upcoming season) is very important because I’ve been waiting for a big opportunity for a long time, and every year I’ve been getting only a few matches, and sometimes they go well, sometimes they go bad. But if I get an opportunity again, I just want to do well and, in my head, I tell myself that I should be in the Indian team I feel every cricketer aspires to play for his country and so do I,” Cariappa concluded.

Rajasthan Royals will restart their IPL campaign against Cariappa’s former team Kings XI Punjab (Now, Punjab Kings) on September 21 at Dubai International Stadium.

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